SHARJAH: It's do-or-die for Peshawar Zalmi as they face Karachi Kings in today's first encounter at the Sharjah Cricket Ground. 

Peshawar, with only three wins in their eight games so far, are dangerously close to elimination: they need to win both of their remaining two games in order to progress to the playoffs. 

If Karachi beat Peshawar today, then the line-up for the playoffs and eliminators will be completed: Islamabad United, Quetta Gladiators, Multan Sultans and Karachi Kings will be through.

But if Peshawar win today, then Karachi and Multan will have to wait until Peshawar?s next match against Lahore on Friday.

If Peshawar win on Friday as well, they will reach the playoffs, leaving Karachi and Multan to wait for the result of the last league match of this PSL: Islamabad United vs Karachi Kings.

It will be advantage Karachi: if they win, they?re through. Even if they don?t, they?ll have to try their best to score as much as possible to be able to surpass Multan on NRR, as a Karachi defeat scenario would see them tied with Multan with 9 points each.

Head-to-head

In their earlier clash on Feb 25, Karachi beat Peshawar by 5 wickets (with 2 balls remaining). Dwayne Smith won the Player-of-the-Match award for his unbeaten 71 off 51 balls, which went in vain as Karachi chased down 132 with ease.